Australia and China both gave up on COVID-zero just as an Omicron outbreak hit. Here's why the situation is so much worse for Beijing
2 years, 2 months ago

Australia and China both gave up on COVID-zero just as an Omicron outbreak hit. Here's why the situation is so much worse for Beijing

ABC  

After hearing how scary COVID-19 was for almost three years, 25-year-old Karen Huang felt "a little bit relieved" when she tested positive for the virus in mid-December. Parallels between Australia and China's COVID-19 opening Australia announced it would abandon COVID-zero measures at the end of 2021 and turned to living with COVID, after the highly transmissible Omicron variant spread through the country. "China's medical system builds its base on hospitals, while general practice and primary care are the foundation of Australia's medical system," Professor Yang said. In response to criticism over its approach to lifting restrictions, a representative from China's National Health Commission insisted the current adjustments were "appropriate, scientific, in line with Chinese laws and the situations of outbreak control". On December 9, China's leading health expert, Zhong Nanshan, said long COVID symptoms such as fatigue were a "subjective feeling" and rarely had long-term impacts.

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History of this topic

What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
2 months, 2 weeks ago

What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world

The Independent  

It was just a few days after new year’s celebrations when news of a surge in the number of people infected with a new kind of virus began to emerge. However, the number of beds occupied by patients with flu in the second week of winter is the highest “since the first publication of the measure” in 2020-21. open image …

China says a surge in respiratory illnesses is caused by flu and other known pathogens
1 year, 4 months ago

China says a surge in respiratory illnesses is caused by flu and other known pathogens

Associated Press  

BEIJING — A surge in respiratory illnesses across China that has drawn the attention of the World Health Organization is caused by the flu and other known pathogens and not by a novel virus, the country’s health ministry said Sunday. Recent clusters of respiratory infections are caused by an overlap of common viruses such as the influenza virus, rhinoviruses, the …

China's pneumonia scare: Transparency please
1 year, 4 months ago

China's pneumonia scare: Transparency please

Live Mint  

China, where covid broke out in November 2019, is in the spotlight again. The World Health Organization has asked the country for details on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children. In a recent statement, the WHO noted an increase in influenza-like ailments compared to the same autumn of the past three years in China’s …

Is COVID making a return to China this winter?
1 year, 4 months ago

Is COVID making a return to China this winter?

Firstpost  

China’s leading respiratory illness expert Zhong Nanshan has warned of a minor COVID-19 surge in the winter and urged the elderly and vulnerable populations to get vaccinated as soon as possible Concerned about an increase of COVID-19 infections in the current winter season, Chinese experts have issued an alert and advised vaccination for vulnerable and old groups. The Chinese Centre …

China on ALERT over likely COVID-19 relapse ahead of winter
1 year, 4 months ago

China on ALERT over likely COVID-19 relapse ahead of winter

India TV News  

COVID-19 alert: Ahead of the winter season, an alert has been sounded across China about the relapse of COVID-19 infections and experts have asked elderly and vulnerable populations to get vaccinated. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention showed that a total of 209 new severe COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths caused by COVID-19 were reported across the country …

China to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over
1 year, 10 months ago

China to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over

Firstpost  

A top Chinese health official said that despite the World Health Organisation ending the worldwide emergency designation for COVID-19, the virus is still dangerous and China will continue to monitor it while boosting vaccination rates among high-risk groups. According to Liang Wannian, head of China’s COVID-19 response expert group under the National Health Commission, the warning status being lifted by …

Many Asian Nations Seeing Covid Rise, India, Singapore on List. Are Countries Planning Curbs?
1 year, 11 months ago

Many Asian Nations Seeing Covid Rise, India, Singapore on List. Are Countries Planning Curbs?

News 18  

A recent spike in Covid-19 cases is seen among Asian nations with the fresh wave exerting pressure on the healthcare systems. India, on the other hand, has touched daily cases of 10,000, the highest in nearly eight months, while Indonesia’s caseload is near a four-month high, Bloomberg reported. Medical experts have said the virus’ new XBB.1.16 variant could be driving …

Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives
2 years ago

Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives

LA Times  

An elderly patient uses a ventilator in the hallway of the emergency ward in Beijing in January. Chinese state media claimed the decision to open up was based on “scientific analysis and shrewd calculation,” and “by no means impulsive.” But in reality, China’s ruling Communist Party ignored repeated efforts by top medical experts to kick-start exit plans until it was …

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say
2 years, 1 month ago

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say

China Daily  

People walk on a street in Shanghai, Dec 8, 2022. "In the short term, CH.1.1 will not trigger large-scale outbreaks," it said, adding that people age 65 and older, those with preexisting illnesses and unvaccinated people should maintain personal protection. Zeng Guang, former chief epidemiologist at China CDC, said the nation has established basic herd immunity against COVID-19. In the …

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say
2 years, 1 month ago

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say

China Daily  

People walk on a street in Shanghai, Dec 8, 2022. "In the short term, CH.1.1 will not trigger large-scale outbreaks," it said, adding that people age 65 and older, those with preexisting illnesses and unvaccinated people should maintain personal protection. Zeng Guang, former chief epidemiologist at China CDC, said the nation has established basic herd immunity against COVID-19. In the …

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say
2 years, 1 month ago

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say

China Daily  

People walk on a street in Shanghai, Dec 8, 2022. "In the short term, CH.1.1 will not trigger large-scale outbreaks," it said, adding that people age 65 and older, those with preexisting illnesses and unvaccinated people should maintain personal protection. Zeng Guang, former chief epidemiologist at China CDC, said the nation has established basic herd immunity against COVID-19. In the …

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say
2 years, 1 month ago

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say

China Daily  

People walk on a street in Shanghai, Dec 8, 2022. "In the short term, CH.1.1 will not trigger large-scale outbreaks," it said, adding that people age 65 and older, those with preexisting illnesses and unvaccinated people should maintain personal protection. Zeng Guang, former chief epidemiologist at China CDC, said the nation has established basic herd immunity against COVID-19. In the …

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say
2 years, 1 month ago

CH.1.1 strain not expected to spread widely, experts say

China Daily  

By Wang Xiaoyu | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: Feb 2, 2023 People walk on a street in Shanghai, Dec 8, 2022. "In the short term, CH.1.1 will not trigger large-scale outbreaks," it said, adding that people age 65 and older, those with preexisting illnesses and unvaccinated people should maintain personal protection. Zeng Guang, former chief epidemiologist at China CDC, said the …

Beijing has hit ‘temporary herd immunity’, says Chinese health official
2 years, 1 month ago

Beijing has hit ‘temporary herd immunity’, says Chinese health official

Firstpost  

A torrent of cases cascaded through China since the Communist Party abruptly ended its zero-Covid policy last month. But there have been signs that the surge has started to tail off, with authorities saying last week that the number of daily Covid-19 deaths had fallen by nearly 80 percent in January Beijing: Beijing has reached “temporary herd immunity” and its …

COVID-19 update: China faces challenge due to flawed containment policies, ineffective vaccines, says Report
2 years, 2 months ago

COVID-19 update: China faces challenge due to flawed containment policies, ineffective vaccines, says Report

India TV News  

China COVID-19 update : China is facing a significant challenge in the form of COVID-19, due to the Chinese Communist Party's "flawed and regressive containment policies and ineffective domestically produced vaccines," GeoPolitica.info reported. China's COVID-19 containment strategy has affected Chinese people and has caused major discontent among people in the country, as per the GeoPolitica.info report. Vaccines manufactured in China …

China logs nearly 13,000 Covid deaths in a week
2 years, 2 months ago

China logs nearly 13,000 Covid deaths in a week

The Hindu  

China reported nearly 13,000 Covid-related deaths in hospitals between January 13 and 19, after a top health official said the vast majority of the population had already been infected. The death toll came a week after China said nearly 60,000 people had died with Covid in hospitals in just over a month -- but there has been widespread scepticism over …

China Reports 70% Rise In Weekly Covid Hospitalisation, Highest Since Pandemic Outbreak: WHO
2 years, 2 months ago

China Reports 70% Rise In Weekly Covid Hospitalisation, Highest Since Pandemic Outbreak: WHO

ABP News  

The World Health Organization’s weekly report on Thursday showed China reported a large jump in Covid-19 hospitalisations in the week up to January 15. This is the highest weekly figure China has recorded since the virus first emerged more than three years ago, the WHO noted, according to the news agency Reuters. However, the global body said it is still …

China's Covid death data hides true toll: Report
2 years, 2 months ago

China's Covid death data hides true toll: Report

India TV News  

China Covid update: The nearly 60,000 Covid-related deaths China reported for the first five weeks of its current outbreak, the largest the world has ever seen, may underestimate the true toll by hundreds of thousands of fatalities, experts were quoted as saying in a media report. China's abrupt pivot from Covid Zero in early December unleashed a surge of omicron …

WHO recognizes China’s accounting of 60,000 covid deaths
2 years, 2 months ago

WHO recognizes China’s accounting of 60,000 covid deaths

Live Mint  

The World Health Organization expressed appreciation for China’s sharing of Covid-19 data after Beijing reported around 60,000 Covid-related deaths over the past month, providing the first major accounting of the death toll since the country lifted pandemic restrictions. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke Saturday with the director of China’s National Health Commission, Ma Xiaowei, a conversation during which …

China Reports 60,000 COVID-related Deaths, Says Peak Passed
2 years, 2 months ago

China Reports 60,000 COVID-related Deaths, Says Peak Passed

Huff Post  

TAIYUAN, CHINA - JANUARY 09: Medical workers treat patients with severe COVID-induced conditions at Shanxi Bethune Hospital on January 9, 2023 in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province of China. China News Service via Getty Images BEIJING — China on Saturday reported nearly 60,000 deaths in people who had COVID-19 since early December following complaints it was failing to release data, and said …

Almost all of Beijing residents to get Covid by January end: What a study shows
2 years, 2 months ago

Almost all of Beijing residents to get Covid by January end: What a study shows

Hindustan Times  

Nearly all of Beijing’s 22 million residents will be infected with Covid by the end of January, a new study found. Covid In China: People queueing to buy medicine amid the Covid-19 pandemic in Beijing, The study reflects the rapid spread of China's Covid outbreak as infections rise after Beijing abruptly relaxed its ‘zero-Covid’ policy in December. The rapid spread …

COVID-19 update: China reports nearly 60,000 coronavirus deaths since December 2022| DETAILS
2 years, 2 months ago

COVID-19 update: China reports nearly 60,000 coronavirus deaths since December 2022| DETAILS

India TV News  

China COVID deaths : China today reported nearly 60,000 deaths in people who had COVID-19 since early December following complaints the government was failing to release data about the status of the pandemic. The death toll included 5,503 deaths due to respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 and 54,435 fatalities from other ailments combined with COVID-19. The National Health Commission said …

China reports almost 60,000 COVID-related deaths, says peak has passed
2 years, 2 months ago

China reports almost 60,000 COVID-related deaths, says peak has passed

LA Times  

China on Saturday reported nearly 60,000 deaths among people who had COVID-19 since early December, offering hard numbers for an unprecedented surge that was apparent in overcrowded hospitals and packed crematoriums, even as the government released little data about the status of the pandemic for weeks. It said those “deaths related to COVID” occurred in hospitals, which left open the …

No immediate COVID-19 threat from China, says World Health Organisation's Europe body
2 years, 2 months ago

No immediate COVID-19 threat from China, says World Health Organisation's Europe body

India TV News  

No immediate COVID-19 threat from China, says World Health Organisation's Europe body Covid 19: China saw an unprecedented nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing Covid restrictions due to protests against its Zero Covid policy. Covid 19 updates: There is 'no immediate threat' for the European region from a COVID-19 outbreak in China, but more information is needed, said …

China's 'Great Migration' Kicks-off Under Shadow of Covid, 2 Billion People to Travel in 40 Days
2 years, 2 months ago

China's 'Great Migration' Kicks-off Under Shadow of Covid, 2 Billion People to Travel in 40 Days

News 18  

China on Saturday marked the first day of “chun yun”, the 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel known pre-pandemic as the world’s largest annual migration of people, bracing for a huge increase in travellers and the spread of COVID-19 infections. “China’s rural areas are wide, the population is large, and the per capita medical resources are relatively insufficient,” National …

Will Australia see an influx of Chinese tourists as China relaxes strict COVID-19 border rules?
2 years, 2 months ago

Will Australia see an influx of Chinese tourists as China relaxes strict COVID-19 border rules?

ABC  

After almost three years of closed borders, Chinese people are able to travel freely again from today. From last Thursday, all travellers from China — including Australian citizens — have to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test and provide a negative result before heading to Australia. 'A big barrier for people to travel' Professor Sam Huang says the process to get …

In China, zero-COVID policy to zero COVID policies
2 years, 2 months ago

In China, zero-COVID policy to zero COVID policies

The Hindu  

On December 20, almost two weeks since China’s sudden and unexpected scrapping of its stringent “zero-COVID” policy, the country officially reported a little over 3,000 COVID-19 cases. The Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, in the lead-up to the Congress, published three editorials on consecutive days, calling for “patience with current policies” and warning that “zero COVID must be adhered to”. …

China defends COVID-19 response after World Health Organization and Joe Biden voice concerns
2 years, 2 months ago

China defends COVID-19 response after World Health Organization and Joe Biden voice concerns

ABC  

China has defended its handling of its raging COVID-19 outbreak after US President Joe Biden voiced concern and the World Health Organisation said Beijing was under-reporting virus deaths. Key points: A foreign ministry spokesperson said China had transparently and quickly shared COVID-19 data with the WHO They said China's "epidemic situation is controllable" Mr Biden said China had been "very …

Should India be alarmed by China’s COVID surge?
2 years, 2 months ago

Should India be alarmed by China’s COVID surge?

The Hindu  

With the surge in COVID-19 cases in China, after the easing of its stringent zero-COVID policy in December, there is apprehension that the pandemic could be entering a new, uncertain phase. But there’s been a lot of natural infection over the last three years, and therefore people have built up a good level of protective immunity at the population level. …

‘Covid deaths are clearly piling up’, says top US scientist as WHO warns China
2 years, 2 months ago

‘Covid deaths are clearly piling up’, says top US scientist as WHO warns China

Live Mint  

Epidemiologist and health economist Dr Eric Feigl-Ding has informed that World Health Organisation's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has asked China to stop under-reporting Covid deaths. The World Health Organisation had also criticized China's ‘narrow' definition of Covid deaths—of suppressing deaths. China reported one new Covid death in the mainland for Wednesday, compared with five a day earlier, bringing its official …

WHO worried about COVID-19 surge in China amid lack of info
2 years, 2 months ago

WHO worried about COVID-19 surge in China amid lack of info

LA Times  

Shoppers wearing masks visit a popular mall in Beijing on New Year’s Day. The head of the World Health Organization said this week that the agency is “concerned about the risk to life in China” amid the coronavirus’ explosive spread across the country and the lack of outbreak data from the Chinese government. Tedros said he understood why numerous countries …

Omicron variants BA.5.2, BF.7 behind China Covid surge but numbers unreliable, says WHO | 5 points
2 years, 2 months ago

Omicron variants BA.5.2, BF.7 behind China Covid surge but numbers unreliable, says WHO | 5 points

India Today  

Omicron subvariants of the Corona virus - BA.5.2 and BF.7 - are responsible for driving up Covid numbers in China, said the World Health Organisation on Wednesday. It added that the data shows no new variants were found in China but the country is "under-representing" the Covid deaths since cases started surging last month. The WHO's emergencies director, Mike Ryan, …

WHO worried about surge of COVID in China amid lack of info
2 years, 2 months ago

WHO worried about surge of COVID in China amid lack of info

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday the agency is “concerned about the risk to life in China” amid the coronavirus’ explosive spread across the country and the lack of outbreak data from the Chinese government. “The reality for China is that many countries they don’t have enough information to base their risk assessment,” he said. …

Beijing threatens response to ‘unacceptable’ virus measures
2 years, 2 months ago

Beijing threatens response to ‘unacceptable’ virus measures

Associated Press  

BEIJING — The Chinese government sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on visitors from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations. “We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a …

70% of Chinese megacity infected with Covid, doctor says
2 years, 2 months ago

70% of Chinese megacity infected with Covid, doctor says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. WHO officials have met counterparts from China’s National Health …

Covid has infected over 70% population in this Chinese city in recent surge
2 years, 2 months ago

Covid has infected over 70% population in this Chinese city in recent surge

Live Mint  

Around 70% of Shanghai's total population has been infected by COVID during the recent surge in China, a senior doctor at one of Shanghai's top hospitals expressed recently as reported by the state media on Tuesday. "Now the spread of the epidemic in Shanghai is very wide, and it may have reached 70 percent of the population, which is 20 …

Canada, Australia impose COVID rules on travelers from China
2 years, 2 months ago

Canada, Australia impose COVID rules on travelers from China

Associated Press  

BEIJING — Australia and Canada have joined a growing list of countries requiring travelers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic. Australian health authorities said Sunday that from Jan 5. all air travelers …

Chinese return to regular activities amid COVID surge
2 years, 2 months ago

Chinese return to regular activities amid COVID surge

Al Jazeera  

Some residents in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan are getting back to normal life after the end of ‘zero-COVID’ measures. China’s biggest holiday, Lunar New Year, begins on January 21 this year, when the railway network is expected to carry 5.5 million passengers, state broadcaster CCTV has said. Amid the expected surge of holiday travel, authorities at Tibet’s …

Chinese state media seek to reassure public over COVID-19
2 years, 2 months ago

Chinese state media seek to reassure public over COVID-19

The Hindu  

Thousands of Chinese took to the streets to mark the New Year as authorities and state media sought to reassure the public that the COVID-19 outbreak sweeping across the country was under control and nearing its peak. The surge in cases has raised fresh worries about the health of the economy and in his first public comments since the change …

What will Australia's fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic look like?
2 years, 2 months ago

What will Australia's fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic look like?

ABC  

Through three years of the pandemic, Bianca Spooner didn't get COVID-19 once — until a few days before Christmas. Key points: New Omicron variants have been causing hospital admissions to rise in the final two months of 2022 Experts say vaccines will remain the main defence against COVID-19 into 2023 Despite investment in studying and treating long COVID, the virus …

Lack of info on China’s COVID-19 surge stirs global concern
2 years, 2 months ago

Lack of info on China’s COVID-19 surge stirs global concern

Associated Press  

BEIJING — Moves by several countries to mandate COVID-19 tests for passengers arriving from China reflect global concern that new variants could emerge in its ongoing explosive outbreak — and that the government may not inform the rest of the world quickly enough. Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist at China’s Center for Disease Control, said Thursday that China has always …

Lack of info on China's COVID-19 surge stirs global concern
2 years, 2 months ago

Lack of info on China's COVID-19 surge stirs global concern

The Hindu  

Moves by several countries to mandate COVID-19 tests for passengers arriving from China reflect global concern that new variants could emerge in its ongoing explosive outbreak — and that the government may not inform the rest of the world quickly enough. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin noted Thursday that many countries have not changed their policies for travelers from …

DC Edit | China endangering world again
2 years, 2 months ago

DC Edit | China endangering world again

Deccan Chronicle  

China’s healthcare system is buckling under the strain of its latest and outlandish decision of taking down all Covid controls so rapidly that the country is endangering the world all over again. From late 2019 in Wuhan where the pathogen may have jumped species to spread panic over the coronavirus to the close of 2022, China took several decisions that …

Covid-19 pandemic: Australia could place new restrictions on Chinese travelers
2 years, 2 months ago

Covid-19 pandemic: Australia could place new restrictions on Chinese travelers

Daily Mail  

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to rule out forcing new Covid-19 restrictions on Chinese travellers amid fears another new variant could soon hit our shores. China this week announced plans to scrap quarantine restrictions on overseas arrivals and allow citizens to leave the country, despite an explosion of new cases nationwide in recent weeks. Australia could place reinstate restrictions …

China Covid surge: As Beijing relaxes travel curbs, all eyes on overburdened health infra
2 years, 2 months ago

China Covid surge: As Beijing relaxes travel curbs, all eyes on overburdened health infra

India Today  

As China moves to reopen borders, millions isolated in the country for over three years now have welcomed the decision with an outpouring of joy and relief. Searches for popular destinations increased tenfold within minutes of the announcement, with several searching for outbound group tours during the Lunar New Year holiday season in late January. However, the decision to relax …

China to reopen borders, scrap quarantine for international travellers from Jan 8
2 years, 3 months ago

China to reopen borders, scrap quarantine for international travellers from Jan 8

Deccan Chronicle  

Beijing: Days after it faced nationwide anti-government protests against its stringent zero-Covid policy, China in a major shift of its coronavirus response policies has announced that it will scrap quarantine for international travellers from January 8 as it reopens its borders and comes out of international isolation after nearly three years. China will cancel inbound quarantine for international arrivals starting …

China’s COVID-19 Surge Raises Odds Of New Mutant Coronavirus Variant
2 years, 3 months ago

China’s COVID-19 Surge Raises Odds Of New Mutant Coronavirus Variant

Huff Post  

Masked commuters walk through a walkway in between two subway stations as they head to work during the morning rush hour in Beijing, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. “When we’ve seen big waves of infection, it’s often followed by new variants being generated,” Ray said. Ray compared the virus to a boxer that “learns to evade the skills that you have …

China Covid surge: Ambulances turned away as ICUs packed, patients lying on hospital floors without oxygen, electricity
2 years, 3 months ago

China Covid surge: Ambulances turned away as ICUs packed, patients lying on hospital floors without oxygen, electricity

Firstpost  

Chief medical officer of a private hospital in Beijing Sonia Jutard-Bourreau saying that most of the patients who are getting infected of Covid are not vaccinated Beijing: China’s Covid situation is turning grim with patients lying untreated on hospital benches and floors, and ambulances being turned away as ICUs overcrowd. ‘Never seen anything like this’ A report by news agency …

China sees nearly 37 million new Covid cases in one single day, says report
2 years, 3 months ago

China sees nearly 37 million new Covid cases in one single day, says report

India TV News  

China Covid Wave: China, which is going through its worst phase of the Covid pandemic so far, reported nearly 37 million new infections in a day this week, ANI cited UK-based Financial Times report. Meanwhile, a leaked document, purportedly from China's National Health Commission, said around 248 million, roughly 17.56 per cent of the total population were affected by the …

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